Turning 18 comes with a long list of exciting milestones. You might be heading off to college, starting your first full-time job, or moving into your own place.
But an important aspect of adulting that often gets overlooked is learning how to manage your own healthcare.
Many young adults suddenly find themselves having to schedule doctor’s appointments, deal with health insurance, refill prescriptions, and make medical decisions on their own for the first time in their lives.
If that feels overwhelming, you're not alone. A recent national survey conducted by The Harris Poll found that 71% of people ages 14 to 26 say the adult healthcare system is confusing, two-thirds wish they had received more preparation, and more than 4 in 10 experienced a gap in primary care after leaving their pediatrician. More than a quarter said a health problem went untreated during that transition.
The good news? Navigating the healthcare system is a learnable skill. Whether you’ve always been healthy or you’re managing a chronic condition, taking ownership of your health now can help prevent bigger problems later. Here are six steps I encourage every young adult to take.
Step 1: Learn how health insurance works
Health insurance may not be the most exciting topic, but understanding it can save you time, money, and frustration. First, it helps to learn about your health insurance options. These can include:
- Staying on your parent’s or guardian’s health insurance plan until you turn 26.
- Getting health insurance through your employer.
- Purchasing private health insurance.
- Buying health insurance through your college.
- Enrolling in Medicaid or reduced-cost health coverage if you are eligible.
Once you have health insurance:
- Learn which doctors and hospitals are in network, which means they accept your health insurance. Out-of-network care is an option, but it typically costs more.
- Read up on your plan to find out when you need a referral to see a specialist.
- Know where to go for routine care, urgent care, and emergencies.
Learning these basics now makes it much easier to get the care you need when something unexpected happens. If you don't know where to start, flip over your insurance card and call the customer service number. Many insurance companies have representatives who can explain your benefits, answer questions about coverage, and help you find a primary care doctor.
You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with terms such as:
- Premium: The amount of money you pay each month for health insurance coverage.
- Deductible: The amount of money you must pay each year to cover your medical care expenses before your health insurance company starts paying.
- Copayment: Fixed fee for a specific service, such as a doctor visit.
- Coinsurance: The percentage of the total cost of medical care that you will pay after meeting your deductible.
- Maximum out-of-pocket expenses: The most money you will be required to pay per year for covered medical expenses.
- Explanation of benefits (EOB): A statement, not a bill, sent by the health insurance company to explain what it does and does not cover in your care.
- Flexible spending account (FSA): Some employers offer this benefit to their employees, allowing them to set aside money they can use for future out-of-pocket medical expenses on a pre-tax basis. Check with your employer for specifics.
If you don’t have health insurance, you still have options. Check online for community health centers or free clinics near you. Resources may also be available at the state or federal level.
Step 2: Find a primary care physician you trust
If you’ve been seeing a pediatrician your whole life, turning 18 means it’s time to establish care with an adult primary care physician (PCP). Your PCP becomes your home base for healthcare. They can:
- Perform annual wellness visits
- Manage routine illnesses and injuries
- Screen for chronic diseases
- Discuss mental health concerns
- Provide reproductive and sexual healthcare
- Coordinate referrals to specialists if needed
A good primary care physician wants to understand your goals, your lifestyle, your concerns, and what’s important to you. Look for a PCP who takes time to listen – not just someone who treats symptoms.
If you're moving to a new place for college or work, ask friends, classmates, coworkers, or family members for recommendations. Personal experiences can be more helpful than online ratings alone.
Step 3: Understand your rights as an adult patient
Once you become an adult, you have the right to make all decisions about your healthcare and speak privately with your physician.
The details of medical privacy laws vary by state. Ask your doctor what information remains confidential and what may appear on insurance billing statements if you're still covered under a parent's health insurance.
Understanding your rights can make you feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics, which helps your physician to provide more personalized care.
Step 4: Know your personal and family health history
One of the most valuable things you can bring to your first adult doctor's appointment is information. Knowing your personal and family health history helps your doctor understand which conditions you may be at higher risk for and whether you should begin screening or preventive care earlier than someone without those risk factors.
First, document what you know about your own health history, including your:
- Allergies
- Known health conditions
- Current medications and vaccinations
Then, document medical conditions that run in your immediate family – siblings and parents – such as:
- Autoimmune conditions
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Genetic disorders
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Mental health conditions
Once you have this information, gather health information about extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins. The more data you have, the clearer the picture you can present to your doctor about your current and potential future health needs.
Related: Read "Specialized care for young adults with colorectal cancer: What you need to know"
Step 5: Don’t skip your annual checkup
Many healthy young adults think they don’t need to see a doctor unless they’re sick. The truth is, preventive care is one of the best investments you can make in your future health.
Annual wellness visits allow your doctor to establish a baseline of what's normal for you while checking for conditions that can develop slowly, such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Prediabetes and diabetes
- Weight-related health concerns
- Depression and anxiety
High blood pressure typically doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms but it slowly damages the heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels in the background. The same is true for high cholesterol and diabetes. Catching these conditions early gives you the chance to prevent heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and other serious complications.
Wellness visits are also a chance to talk with your doctor about vaccinations, nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, relationships, and reproductive health – topics that have a major impact on lifelong wellness.
Related: Read "Autism after high school: Nine tips to help teens transition to adulthood"
Step 6: Be honest, ask questions, and advocate for yourself
One of the biggest adjustments to adult healthcare is realizing you're an active participant in your health journey, not just a passenger. That starts with being honest. If you vape or smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs, tell us. If you have questions about your sexual health, ask us. Our job isn't to judge you or get you in trouble – it’s to help you stay healthy and safe. The more we know, the better we can care for you.
It also means speaking up when something isn’t working:
- If you don't understand something, ask.
- If medication is too expensive, tell us.
- If a specialist never called you back, let your doctor’s office know.
- If you’re confused about test results or treatment options, ask for an explanation.
We want to know when obstacles are getting in the way of your care. We can often help solve problems with insurance, referrals, prescriptions, or scheduling — but we can only do that if we know about them. Advocating for yourself doesn't mean you have to figure everything out alone. It means knowing when to ask for help.
Taking ownership of your health starts now
The health habits you build in your late teens and 20s – seeing a primary care physician regularly, understanding your insurance, knowing your family history, and speaking openly with your physician – can protect your health for decades to come.
You don’t have to become a healthcare expert overnight. Just take the first step. Your future self will thank you.
To connect with a primary care physician, make an appointment by calling 214-645-3900 or request an appointment online.
